Colorado

[Pozees]

I read somewhere not long ago that Silkies are really very cold hardy. Here's a link to a different conversation regarding silkies and cold hardiness https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-are-more-cold-hardy-than-we-tend-to-think/10
We had several 20 years ago in warmer climate of NM, and am trying again now, but our little roo died last week (on a fairly warm day). We get so cold and windy up here, I tried to really check it out before diving in.

Once feathered they do seem to stay nice and toasty, but it sometimes takes them a bit longer than smooth feathered breeds to grow a full set of feathers. I have mine out in the unheated, uninsulated coop and they seem quite content. They snuggle together at night, but they do that all the time, regardless of weather.

 

[lovincolorado]

My brooder Silkie with Silkie crosses. This was the Silkie I got from east coast silkies.....

 

[Chickenuts]

Ha! I recognized that coop before I even saw who posted it. Lucky chickens! Poochie is still doing well?

 

[Chickenuts]

Well, that's really good news for the rest of your flock! That cute little guy wouldn't have been much of a meal

 

[lovincolorado]

Poochie is fabulous! Roosting, unlike the other silkies. He was making eyes at Debbie the other day. She was considering it, but realized she had to tend to the babies!!

 

[Chickenuts]

Oh nice! They'll make beautiful babies when she's ready again! I guess he chose to roost here, rather than sleep alone?

 

[Pozees]

I had a bit of a surprise a little while ago. I have eggs I noted as having set on November 8th, due to hatch this Friday. Apparently I failed to note I set 2 of them on the 2nd, because one from the 2nd hatched and the one from the 1st is pipped! I was sitting here reading and suddenly heard cheeping in the back bedroom where the incubators and hatcher are. I thought I must be hallucinating but went to check anyway, and there was a lovely little silver colored Silkie chick in there and the pipped egg. I quickly fired up the hatcher (luckily I had already disinfected and dried it in preparation for moving eggs into it on Wednesday) and as soon as it got to temp moved the chick and pipped egg, candled the other egg from the 2nd to make sure it wasn't about to hatch (it isn't), and checked all my notes again. I keep a running spreadsheet/diary where I note eggs laid, set, etc. and I just flat blew it, there is no way this fully formed chick is five days early. If I thought I could tell it apart from the two in the brooder I'd name it Sunday Surprise LOL but so far all three are carbon copies of one another. They are sired by a Black cock bird from Catdance and based on color, I believe all three came from a Splash hen I bought from Shyscreations last spring, who is just beautiful. If I have time later this week I will try to take some pics of them.

 

[samsr]

Its good to hear your hatch is going well. Surprise 1 2 and 3.
On a different note, i let my chickens out for some play time this afternoon and one of my eastereggers decided to fly from the coop to the front yard. I was quite impressed. 75 feet. I guess she didnt want to get her feet in the snow. What a snob. Lol

 

[Pozees]

Goodness, that is an impressive flight! What a girl won't do to keep her feet dry, huh? LOL

Chick that was pipped just hatched about 10 minutes ago.

I have 7 to move to the hatcher on Wednesday for Friday hatch, then I think the next couple of hatches will be Saturday hatches.

 

[wsmith]

So the plan was to go out and clean the hen house this morning.....uh,..no? I went to bed with a gentle snow falling peacefully. I woke up to the wind roaring and the snow drifting. None of the chickens wanted to go out. Only the tom turkey. NPIP coming tomorrow morning........So I decided to add another bale of straw to the coop and a bag of leaves. They like it. Filled the waterer and gave them a bucket of scratch. They are happy. If they're happy, I'm happy. The cleaning can wait. I cleared out a spot in the straw shed (a lean-to shed) for the cages, and I will put them in there tonight. It's protected from the wind and snow. When each bird is tested, they go back into the main chicken yard area.